Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Eight convicted for negligence in Beni Sueif Cultural Palace fire

Eight cultural bureaucrats was convicted for negligence, in the case of the Beni Suef cultural Palace fire, killing almost 50 people last September. they all received a 10 year prison sentence.

The fire was caused by the lethal combination of candles on stage, a decor largely made out of paper, twice as many spectators as allowed, and a less than lax enforcing of security and emergency regulations. Most people died in the following stampede, when people tried to evacuate the theatre. Only one exit door was open.

The fire caused a storm in the Egyptian cultural community , and calls for the resignation of the controversial Minister of Culture, Farouk Hosni, led him to hand in his resignation, later revoked by President Mubarak.